Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

Had an Ashdown 300 Evo combo a number of years ago, very nice sounding head. I was kinda leaning towards a Mesa Walkabout for about the same price. Not sure if the Mesa is fairly neutral sounding or if it has a baked in sound like the Ashdown I had (warm).

It's been a while and I don't recall if Mesa's have a particular backed in flavor. Heck, find an old Peavey Mk III or IV. Very versatile and cheap. Added advantage would be cab theft deterrent...given it's weight! The list is endless, but after loving my Four On the Floor Pedal, I would love to try a Genzler Magellan 350. I gather they don't really have a built in tone.
Magellan 350 - Genzler Amplification

 

[dagrev]

Love my two Ashdown's -

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[MCF]

Thanks! I'm using DR Hi-Beams stainless steel strings. So far that's what i've liked out of the bunch of strings i've tried throughout the years

Those work!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

once got fired (whole band) from a cush residence gig for a similar ever….
that very drummer later told me, one should not take someone who decided to pound on skins for the rest of their lives very seriously…..

 

[TBird1958]

This is starting to sound like it's coming together, I've been tweaking the pickup height and it's sounding pretty good - May still raise them a little.

 

[WillyW]

Yesterday was NBD for me. This one's a bit more beat up than the burst I bought from @dukeorock but it plays great, sounds great, and is RED!
The truss rod needs a bigger allen wrench than the Epis. I think it's a 5mm; I used a 3/16" (my metrics having wandered off with someone) which worked but was a bit loose. (Willy's action was low even for me.)
I had to raise the neck pickup because the rubber foam was unexpandable- 4 slices of index card did the trick.
It sounds different than the other Greco but has different flats on it. Purple silks, tho! Came with a case, three (!) leather straps, and a pair of socks. @WillyW is a pleasure to do business with. Pink Floyd (Echoes live at Pompeii), Cream, SSPU, my own stuff, it worked for everything. Happy camper.
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She was one of the imports from Japan and she looks like she was well used and well loved.

I'm kinda sad to see her go as she a much better bass than my CP, and my CP is pretty damn good.

I'm usually super high on the bridge pickup and super low on the neck but I don't recall messing much with pickup height on that one.
I hope she inspires your expansion into Freeform jazz

 

[JJR58]

Would love to get to hear you play. Maybe one day!

You will though, at next years GTG

 

[WillyW]

Looks like a fantastic cab. I always wanted to try one but never had the opportunity.

The PF 50T has always been on interest to me. Tube warmth, but without the size and weight of 100 or more watts. Someone here has one and speaks highly of it. Willy maybe?? The Genzler Magellen 350 seems interesting. Would likely be kind of transparent I would think. Heck, the Peavey Mini Max seems interesting as well. Then there is this. It has to sound good for a nice warm tone. I believe some guy out your way has one and he seems to do alright with it.
Ashdown ABM-300-EVO IV 300-watt Bass Head

I have to stop. There are just too many options that seem so interesting.

Oh, power amp and various pre pedals would be tempting as well.

I'm sooper happy with my pf50t. It's kind of a middle of the road do it all kind of amp with the ability to plug directly into the pa without a cabinet.

it's a 1k amp + cab at $350-400 for the 210 or 115 flip top.


I do prefer my genz Benz 9.2 shuttle and 808 cab overall, but the flip top is easier.

if I was smart I'd just use a 7ender rumble. But I'm not that smart.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Ah no hate on a pickup variety! Having different voices that you like from the bass you want to play is what its all about

This! While I'm a huge fan of certain Thunderbird pickups, everyone's taste is different. Almost the last thing I'd want in a Thunderbird would be 7ender P or J pickups, but while I might tease people who play those, if it works for them, more power to them!Also, Leo got a lot of things right early on, but he got a lot of things even righter later on with Musicman and with G&L.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

You will though, at next years GTG

Yup. Start saving now!

 

[JJR58]

I'm sooper happy with my pf50t. It's kind of a middle of the road do it all kind of amp with the ability to plug directly into the pa without a cabinet.

it's a 1k amp + cab at $350-400 for the 210 or 115 flip top.


I do prefer my genz Benz 9.2 shuttle and 808 cab overall, but the flip top is easier.

if I was smart I'd just use a 7ender rumble. But I'm not that smart.

Can't say I'm smart, just adventurous.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

This is starting to sound like it's coming together, I've been tweaking the pickup height and it's sounding pretty good - May still raise them a little.

I start now with Thunderbird pickups high; it's just part of my setup. I got that idea from you talking about how much better most birds are with raised pickups.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

She was one of the imports from Japan and she looks like she was well used and well loved.

I'm kinda sad to see her go as she a much better bass than my CP, and my CP is pretty damn good.

I'm usually super high on the bridge pickup and super low on the neck but I don't recall messing much with pickup height on that one.
I hope she inspires your expansion into Freeform jazz

I noticed the pickup heights; I generally prefer my bridge high enough to have a similar output to wherever my neck height is set. After I raised the neck I didn't have to touch the bridge.

My CP is glorious. It was my go to even having a VP, but the sounds from the Grecos are just too good. If only they had body relief and 1.5" necks they'd be perfect. They can do what the CP does and what the VP does.

Freeform is about the only kind of jazz I will claim to play. I'm not good enough for the rest, although I'll happily pretend to play it. "Echoes" may be the alien love child of acid rock and freeform jazz.

 

[TBird1958]

I start now with Thunderbird pickups high; it's just part of my setup. I got that idea from you talking about how much better most birds are with raised pickups.

Sometimes it's a bit much though, both my Greco and the '64 are cranked down a lot. The Greco was just too hot, overloading the front end of every amp, the '64 is magical to me so I'm not touching it.

 

[Camaro69]

I start now with Thunderbird pickups high; it's just part of my setup. I got that idea from you talking about how much better most birds are with raised pickups.

Mine are high, but mot high enough. I'd like more output but theres already chrome/paint missing from the E string
I may not be a delicate player

 

[kyral210]

I start now with Thunderbird pickups high; it's just part of my setup. I got that idea from you talking about how much better most birds are with raised pickups.

How high is high to you?

 

[JJR58]

Sometimes it's a bit much though, both my Greco and the '64 are cranked down a lot. The Greco was just too hot, overloading the front end of every amp, the '64 is magical to me so I'm not touching it.

I find I don't like my Bird pickups too high. For me a bit lower works just fine.
Also gives the amp a chance to do its thing.

 

[KaraQ]

Yah, a sure way not to sell a single guitar/bass is to call it a Pinto! Although..,

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I know this was a 'thing' back in the day... but it just looks like silicone boobies to me in retrospect.

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Hah! tb changed t_ts to boobies! That's funny! Boobies is such a cute word!

When I was in middle/high schools, my uncle had a Pinto similar to that. Dual Holleys on a tunnel ram instead of the blower, and gray instead of red - it had been a drag car (tube frame bits, aluminum floor/trunk/engine bay, etc) converted to drive on the street

My Transit Connect is appliance white(I don't have a white TBird, but the gigmobile is).
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Closest I have to appliance white.
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Things I have in "appliance white":


Refrigerator:

2013: Classic Pro:

2016 Ram:

So a question, maybe controversial,
Who is Australia's most successful bassist - not necessarily the best but successful. I'm talking Australians or from bands that started in Australia.
a) Bob Daisley
b) Maurice Gibb
c) Athol Guy (The Seekers)
d) Nick Seymour (Crowded House)
e) Anthony Field (The Wiggles)

I excluded Flea as his RHCP career is born in the USA.

BTW I don't have the answer, just interested in where this goes. AFAIK only one of the 5 used a Thunderbird.

He's not on your list, and wasn't born in Australia, but I would think maybe Cliff Williams from AC/DC?

 

[Stealth57]

When I was in middle/high schools, my uncle had a Pinto similar to that. Dual Holleys on a tunnel ram instead of the blower, and gray instead of red - it had been a drag car (tube frame bits, aluminum floor/trunk/engine bay, etc) converted to drive on the street






Things I have in "appliance white":


Refrigerator:
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2013: Classic Pro:

View attachment 5286705




2016 Ram:

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He's not on your list, and wasn't born in Australia, but I would think maybe Cliff Williams from AC/DC?

Don't you have a white Suburban?

 

[TBird1958]

Can't say I'm smart, just adventurous.
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I spy your ciggies!